Kurt has an image inducer that lets him hide his appearance. That solves the immediate problem of attracting attention, but it also means he has to disguise himself to do things…

Kurt has an image inducer that lets him hide his appearance. That solves the immediate problem of attracting attention, but it also means he has to disguise himself to do things other people take for granted. Even among people who should understand, acceptance isn't automatic. Kitty is scared of him when she first arrives. She's a mutant herself, but that doesn't stop her reacting to what he looks like. Their friendship develops as she gets to know him. By the time they're in Excalibur together, that frightened first reaction feels a long way behind them. And there's an important difference between Kurt being able to joke about himself and everybody else assuming he can't be hurt. He's generally sociable. That doesn't mean being treated like a monster has somehow become harmless. The image inducer gives him an option, but he shouldn't have to look like somebody else for people to recognize that he's a person. The books have plenty of room to show how unfair that is without making him miserable every time he appears.